Visit Whitby - Wonderful Harbour Between Yorkshire Coastal Cliffs

Welcome to wonderful Whitby. This coastal town has something special, and has long been popular with visitors to Yorkshire’s Coast, owing to it’s delightful harbour, which is surrounded by pretty houses and accommodation, restaurants and fun things to do. All this splendour is overlooked by historic Whitby Abbey, and alongside a sandy beach.

Take a stroll along the harbour walls, from where you may be lucky to see seals, dolphins and porpoises playing as little fishing boats chug by. A boat ride is highly recommended.

An Introduction to Whitby

From the atmospheric Abbey towering over winding cobbled streets to the windswept beach and working harbour, Whitby is not your traditional coastal town. No trip to this picturesque ancient seaport would be complete without sampling some award-winning fish and chips, following the footsteps of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and English explorer Captain James Cook or discovering the history of the famous Whitby Jet.

Enjoy the North York MoorsYorkshire Coast and Howardian Hills by public transport, find out more.


Places to Stay in Whitby

Hotels in Whitby

The following hotels are in or very close to Whitby.

Horseshoe Hotel

Horseshoe Hotel Egton Bridge, Whitby, YO21 1XE, United Kingdom

Saxonville Hotel

Ladysmith Avenue, Whitby, YO21 3HX, United Kingdom

The Royal Hotel Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3HA, United Kingdom

Sneaton Castle

Castle Road, Whitby, YO21 3QN, United Kingdom

White Horse & Griffin

87 Church Street, Whitby, YO22 4BH, United Kingdom

Penny Hedge, Whitby by Marston’s Inns

3-5 Botany Way, Whitby, YO22 4NL, United Kingdom

There’s more hotels to choose from in Whitby. Click here to view them all.


Self Catering Holiday Cottages

Below you can see a small sample of the many great holiday cottages in Whitby. Click here to view them all. Also see the range of B&Bs in Whitby.

Grosmont Cottage, Ruswarp

Grosmont cottage, Lambert Hill Farm, The Carrs, Ruswarp, Whitby, YO21 1RL, United Kingdom

Lemonade Cottage

Whitby, YO22 4EG, United Kingdom

9 Railway Cottages

Whitby, YO211TH, United Kingdom

Albany House, Whitby

Whitby, YO21 3BX, United Kingdom

Raithwaite Sandsend

Sandsend Road, Whitby, YO21 3ST, United Kingdom

Host & Stay – Oyster Cottage

8 Spa Well Court, Whitby, United Kingdom, YO21 1TJ

Things to do in Whitby – Attractions


Events in Whitby

Allelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

April 11th, 2023 2:00pm

Allelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

April 9th, 2023 5:00pm

Allelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

April 10th, 2023 5:00pm

Dirty Dusting at Whitby Pavilion Theatre, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

May 29th, 2023 7:30pm

First Class Wrestling at Whitby Pavilion Theatre, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

August 26th, 2023 7:30pm

Babylon (18) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby

West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN

Date & Time:

March 29th, 2023 7:00pm

Whitby images


About Whitby

Whitby is one of the most famous and popular seaside towns in Yorkshire.

Whitby is split by the River Esk. On the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea, the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for “Dracula”. Nearby is the Church of St. Mary, reached by 199 steps.

The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in the house where Cook once lived, displays paintings and maps.

West of town is West Cliff Beach, lined with beach huts.

As well as being the birthplace of some of modern history’s best known stories, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage.

Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula.

For industry, as well as fishing, Jet and alum were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th century.

The abbey ruin at the top of the East Cliff is the town’s oldest and most prominent landmark.

Other significant features include the swing bridge, which crosses the River Esk and the harbour, which is sheltered by the grade II listed East and West piers.

The town’s maritime heritage is commemorated by statues of Captain Cook and William Scoresby, as well as the whalebone arch that sits at the top of the West Cliff.

The town also has a strong literary tradition and has featured in literary works, television and cinema.

See more on the Yorkshire Coast here.


Whitby on the Map

Where is Whitby? You can find Whitby at the edge of the North York Moors, on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Specifically, it is in North Yorkshire, in between Scarborough and Saltburn.

Whitby has a train station, at the end of a branch line from Middlesbrough, and is on the main A171 road which runs from Middlesbrough to Scarborough. There is a junction in the middle of the town with the A174 which follows the coast more closely, through the towns of Saltburn, Marske and Redcar.


Whitby FAQ’s

Is Whitby worth visiting?

Short answer: yes! A compact, historic harbour town with bustling cafe’s, restaurants, steps up to an ancient abbey and glorious sea views.

What is Whitby famous for?

Whitby is famous for fish & chips as well as Whitby Abbey – the inspiration for the setting of Bram Stoker‘s novel “Dracula”.

Who is the most famous person in Whitby?

Captain Cook – Captain James Cook is famous for his discovery of Australia. He was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, captain in the British Royal Navy and most likely one of Whitby’s most famous people.

Why is Whitby famous for Dracula?

Novelist, Bram Stoker, stayed in Whitby and used the ancient ruins of the abbey overlooking the cliffs as the setting for his gothic horror “Dracula”.


Where next?

Head to the North York Moors for rolling countryside or to York for big name acts and fine dining.